The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-01-14

'.But.'' he said. "I'll be home early,
for I've got such an early start, and l
shan't stop at any place where / amt
got an order I'll be home by shutdown,
SIRE.
The long, cold day wore YEARLY away.
The storm did not abate as the daylight
wancd. The sun went down, the night
came quickly, and Uncle Zenas did not
return.
Aunt Screlda peered out often ana
anxiously from the little white-curtain-
ed window, and Ciccly listened intently
for the first note of the CHEEKY song.
But six, seven, nine a'clock came. and
the looked and hoped-for face did not
appear; the song was not heard, and the
night grew wilder.
Where was Uncle Ienas
A mile from home, lying by the roao.
side, with the snow drifting over him,
and his hands lying helplcssly by his
side.
He had been hurrying homeward,
belatcd by the dreadful condition OF the
roads. While descending steep hill
the front wheel OF his wagon had sud
denly fallen of, and the poor old man
had fallen heavily forward, striking his
head on great stone by the road.
He tried to rise, but could not and
in n moment he was insensible. The
horse, unable to move the disabled cart,
stood quietly in the road with dropping
head. 1t was little after nine o'clock,
and if help did not come soon it would
come too late.
The storm was at its height. A faint
light could be seen far down the road.
1t moved slowly, and was long time
coming mp the steep hill. Once it stood
still for several minutes. That was be-
cause of the exhaustion of the brave
little girl who carried the old tin LAM
tern in her chilled hand
''Grandfather.
There was no reply to the shrili,
childish cry.
80 grandfather
The voice wavered and trcmbled, ahu
died away in little culver that told of
tears. I'm go Il little farther" it
said.
A little farther, and Ccely was kneel-
ing by her Uncle Zenas, calling him by
endearing names, kissing his cold checks
and chatting his freezing hands.
He moved once, turned his head from
side to side in the snow, but did not
speak Cicely forgot her weakness, her
terror gave place to great courage and
strength. What people called her 'as-
surance." but what was really her self
possession, was of great value at that
moment.
II must have help" she said decis-
lively.
She covered Uncle Zenas with the
thick winter robe hanging from the
seat OF the cart, mounted the old horse,
and started for the nearest house, hall
mile distant. 1t was nearly ten o'clock
when she reached it. and the wind
roared so that she had to pound on the
door with her lantern to make herself
heard.
"Good land of liberty!' was all oio
farmer johnson could say, as he opened
the door and looked down ON Cicely.
bundled to the eyes with her snow-cov-
cred wraps.
30, Mr., johnson, grandfather is owe.
on Chestnut Hill in the snow! He fell
from the wagon, and don't know any
think! Do come at once!'
In very few moments farmer JOIN.
son and his three stalwart sons were
hurrying toward Chestnut Hill in a
great sled with two horses hitched to it.
Cicely would 60, too, in spite Of Mrs.
Johnson's protest. that she had better
stay where she was, and 60 to bed.
The first hours Of the Christmas day
had come before Uncle Zenas, safe in
his own little home. with Aunt Serelda
bathing his bleeding head, and Cicely
asking again and again If he did not
know her. came to consciousness again.
at was most an awful narrer CO.
cape" said Uncle Zenas, as he and Ser
elda and Cicely sat at dinner for the
next three or four Christmases that
followed. II was just about tuckered
out when they got me home, and didn't